ZME Science
No Result
View All Result
ZME Science
No Result
View All Result
ZME Science

Home → Science → Nanotechnology

Scientists find a way to transform cells into tiny lasers

Mihai AndreibyMihai Andrei
July 27, 2015
in Health, Nanotechnology, News
A A
Share on FacebookShare on TwitterSubmit to Reddit

RelatedPosts

Protection from the AstraZeneca vaccine drops significantly three months after the second dose
Scientists simulate a piece of a rat’s brain – will this save the $1bn. Human Brain Project?
“Harmony Square” is new a video game against political misinformation, backed by the Department of Homeland Security
Climate change has never been more polarized by partisan belief. Say ‘thanks’ to mainstream media

Scientists have created a mixture of oil and fluorescent dyes that can be safely added to human cells – the dye then gets activated by short pulses of light and starts behaving like a laser, communicating the tissue’s position to doctors. The technology could add new ways for light to be used in diagnosis and treatment medicine.

An optical fibre is shown activating tiny lasers created within pig skin cells. Image credits: Matjaž Humar/Seok Hyun Yun

The system was devised by Seok Hyun Yun and Matjaž Humar, two optical physicists from Harvard University, and uses oil or fat droplets to reflect and amplify light, basically generating a laser whenever needed. With this, scientists could more easily identify affected cells or cancerous cells.

Yun had previously developed a similar technology, generating laser light by engineering cells to express a fluorescent jellyfish protein, then placing a single such cell between a pair of external mirrors. But this work takes it one step further, generating the laser from within. This also solves another problem – that of spectrum broadness.

Luminescent probes used for human cells are not a novelty, but the problem is that they have pretty broad emission spectra around 30-100 nanometres. This means that you can only use so many probes at once, as they can get confused with the broad background of natural emissions in the tissue. For these microlasers, the spectrum is more narrow, in the 500-800 nanometre range, making it easier to label cells with light, says Jeffrey Karp, a bioengineer at Brigham and Women’s Hospital in Boston, Massachusetts.

“One of the greatest implications of the work is to track thousands of cells simultaneously with a single technique,” he says.

Furthermore, researchers can vary the wavelength and tag individual cells to their liking. While the technology isn’t yet ready for medical use, it’s very promising.

“It will be fun or very exciting to adapt the knowledge that’s in the traditional laser community and explore that in this platform to optimize laser characteristics,” says Yun.

ShareTweetShare
Mihai Andrei

Mihai Andrei

Dr. Andrei Mihai is a geophysicist and founder of ZME Science. He has a Ph.D. in geophysics and archaeology and has completed courses from prestigious universities (with programs ranging from climate and astronomy to chemistry and geology). He is passionate about making research more accessible to everyone and communicating news and features to a broad audience.

Related Posts

great white shark
Animals

This Shark Expert Has Spent Decades Studying Attacks and Says We’ve Been Afraid for the Wrong Reasons

byJordan Strickler
26 minutes ago
Agriculture

A Rocket Carried Cannabis Seeds and 166 Human Remains into Space But Their Capsule Never Made It Back

byTudor Tarita
49 minutes ago
News

Ancient ‘Zombie’ Fungus Trapped in Amber Shows Mind Control Began in the Age of the Dinosaurs

byMihai Andrei
1 hour ago
News

Your browser lets websites track you even without cookies

byMihai Andrei
1 hour ago

Recent news

great white shark

This Shark Expert Has Spent Decades Studying Attacks and Says We’ve Been Afraid for the Wrong Reasons

June 30, 2025

A Rocket Carried Cannabis Seeds and 166 Human Remains into Space But Their Capsule Never Made It Back

June 30, 2025

Ancient ‘Zombie’ Fungus Trapped in Amber Shows Mind Control Began in the Age of the Dinosaurs

June 30, 2025
  • About
  • Advertise
  • Editorial Policy
  • Privacy Policy and Terms of Use
  • How we review products
  • Contact

© 2007-2025 ZME Science - Not exactly rocket science. All Rights Reserved.

No Result
View All Result
  • Science News
  • Environment
  • Health
  • Space
  • Future
  • Features
    • Natural Sciences
    • Physics
      • Matter and Energy
      • Quantum Mechanics
      • Thermodynamics
    • Chemistry
      • Periodic Table
      • Applied Chemistry
      • Materials
      • Physical Chemistry
    • Biology
      • Anatomy
      • Biochemistry
      • Ecology
      • Genetics
      • Microbiology
      • Plants and Fungi
    • Geology and Paleontology
      • Planet Earth
      • Earth Dynamics
      • Rocks and Minerals
      • Volcanoes
      • Dinosaurs
      • Fossils
    • Animals
      • Mammals
      • Birds
      • Fish
      • Amphibians
      • Reptiles
      • Invertebrates
      • Pets
      • Conservation
      • Animal facts
    • Climate and Weather
      • Climate change
      • Weather and atmosphere
    • Health
      • Drugs
      • Diseases and Conditions
      • Human Body
      • Mind and Brain
      • Food and Nutrition
      • Wellness
    • History and Humanities
      • Anthropology
      • Archaeology
      • History
      • Economics
      • People
      • Sociology
    • Space & Astronomy
      • The Solar System
      • Sun
      • The Moon
      • Planets
      • Asteroids, meteors & comets
      • Astronomy
      • Astrophysics
      • Cosmology
      • Exoplanets & Alien Life
      • Spaceflight and Exploration
    • Technology
      • Computer Science & IT
      • Engineering
      • Inventions
      • Sustainability
      • Renewable Energy
      • Green Living
    • Culture
    • Resources
  • Videos
  • Reviews
  • About Us
    • About
    • The Team
    • Advertise
    • Contribute
    • Editorial policy
    • Privacy Policy
    • Contact

© 2007-2025 ZME Science - Not exactly rocket science. All Rights Reserved.